The Federal Maritime Commission announces that it has received an Outstanding Ethics Program Award from the United States Office of Government Ethics (OGE). The award is presented to federal agencies for outstanding achievement in developing and managing government ethics programs.

FMC ethics officials Christopher Hughey and Jennifer Devine accepted the award on March 3, 2004, during the 13th Annual Government Ethics Conference in New York City. The FMC was one of 12 federal agencies to receive the award this year.

OGE is responsible for monitoring agency ethics programs to ensure that those programs comply with federal ethics regulations. OGE evaluated the management and effectiveness of the FMC's program in June, 2003.

The FMC's ethics program includes the review of public and confidential financial disclosure forms, ethics training, and advising employees on ethics issues, such as conflicts of interest.

Chairman Blust extended his personal thanks to the Commission's ethics officials. He remarked that their exemplary efforts reflect favorably on them and the Commission as a whole.